Report on Snohomish County UW branch sent to Legislature

Published 3:51 pm Wednesday, December 17, 2008

A new report sent to the Legislature today suggests those wanting a four-year college in Snohomish County need to get a commitment for its eventual launch before deciding where it might land.

Consultant Bill Wilkerson recommends political leaders pursue legislation in 2009 “to authorize a new higher education institution in Snohomish County,” and then, if successful, determine where it should be built.

Today, the state Higher Education Coordinating Board, which hired Wilkerson, unanimously agreed to deliver his findings to the Legislature without accepting or rejecting specific ideas such as the authorizing legislation.

Wilkerson spent 10 weeks trying to broker agreement between backers of sites in Everett and Marysville as a future home for a University of Washington branch campus. The feuding prevented the start of classes this year at a temporary location.

A copy of Wilkerson’s report and the board’s action can be found here.